Reading every day is one of the best things students can do to prevent sinking into the “summer slide” when school ends for the year.
What is the summer slide? It’s the term used for those summer months off school when many students struggle to access educational opportunities.
Research shows that many students, especially those from low-income families, return to school in the fall with a loss of about two months of grade level equivalency.
The Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools has a plan of action to address this year’s summer slide: books, and lots of them. The district wants to send every K-5 child home for the summer with 10 books to read.
A drive is on now to collect these books, and the community’s help is needed.
Books, or monetary donations to purchase books, are being accepted at any KCK Public Library (KCKPL) location now through April 2016. (Checks can be made payable to the KCK School Foundation for Excellence.)
Fiction and nonfiction, English and Spanish, and books about all topics and areas of interest are being sought for all elementary grade levels. Books will be sorted and distributed to students before school is out in May.
KCKPL locations are as follows:
• Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library, 4051 West Drive (at Wyandotte County Lake)
• Main Library, 625 Minnesota Ave.
• South Branch Library, 3104 Strong Ave.
• Turner Community Library, 831 S. 55th St.
• West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd St.
– Story from Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools